Eurasian collared-dove • Streptopelia decaocto
Identification
The Eurasian collared-dove has a grey body, three-toned (light brown, grey and black) wings, and a black collar on the back of its neck. Its song is: coo COOO cup. Click here to listen to calls and songs.
Habitat & Range
This bird is an exotic species to the Central Coast. In the 1970s its native range consisted only of southeastern Europe and the Middle East, but has since expanded to include virtually all of Europe and Asia, North America, and parts of the Caribbean. Some spread is due to human introductions, however it is also capable of spreading rapidly without human assistance. It can live in a variety of habitat types, including suburban settings. It was first recorded in BC in 2005, and has since become an established species rather than a newcomer or novelty. It appeared on the Central Coast in 2008 and is now seen regularly on Calvert Island. Click here for an interactive map of this species' colonization of North America (up to 2012).
Find more information at the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas here.
Similar Species
It is taller and paler than the similar mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), with a longer, broader tail.
Intriguing Info
The rapid expansion of the Eurasian collared-dove’s range has resulted in competition with the mourning dove in North America and the turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) in Europe. Find out more about the Eurasian collared-dove and its spread on the National Geographic and Global Invasive Species Database species pages.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2969-Streptopelia-decaocto
The Eurasian collared-dove has a grey body, three-toned (light brown, grey and black) wings, and a black collar on the back of its neck. Its song is: coo COOO cup. Click here to listen to calls and songs.
Habitat & Range
This bird is an exotic species to the Central Coast. In the 1970s its native range consisted only of southeastern Europe and the Middle East, but has since expanded to include virtually all of Europe and Asia, North America, and parts of the Caribbean. Some spread is due to human introductions, however it is also capable of spreading rapidly without human assistance. It can live in a variety of habitat types, including suburban settings. It was first recorded in BC in 2005, and has since become an established species rather than a newcomer or novelty. It appeared on the Central Coast in 2008 and is now seen regularly on Calvert Island. Click here for an interactive map of this species' colonization of North America (up to 2012).
Find more information at the British Columbia Breeding Bird Atlas here.
Similar Species
It is taller and paler than the similar mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), with a longer, broader tail.
Intriguing Info
The rapid expansion of the Eurasian collared-dove’s range has resulted in competition with the mourning dove in North America and the turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) in Europe. Find out more about the Eurasian collared-dove and its spread on the National Geographic and Global Invasive Species Database species pages.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2969-Streptopelia-decaocto
References
Dunn, J. and Alderfer, J. (2011). Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Washington, DC: National Geographic. P. 208.
Romagosa, C. (2008). Streptopelia decaocto. Global Invasive Species Database. Accessed 06/25/2014.
Vancouver Sun Editor (2009). "Invasion of the Doves." Bird Watch. Vancouver Sun Blog Network. Accessed 10/07/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Peter Gibbs, Kelly Fretwell, and Brian Starzomski (2014).
Dunn, J. and Alderfer, J. (2011). Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Washington, DC: National Geographic. P. 208.
Romagosa, C. (2008). Streptopelia decaocto. Global Invasive Species Database. Accessed 06/25/2014.
Vancouver Sun Editor (2009). "Invasion of the Doves." Bird Watch. Vancouver Sun Blog Network. Accessed 10/07/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Peter Gibbs, Kelly Fretwell, and Brian Starzomski (2014).